Joe Horn played WR at tiny Itwamba Community College in Mississippi.
He caught 54 passes for 878 yards and 7 TDs and moonlighted as a PR.
Did not play football for two years after leaving college.
Eventually he caught the attention of the CFL in 1994 during their CFLUSA Invasion.
He’d be initially signed by the Baltimore Stallions and then the Shreveport Pirates, before landing on the roster of the Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995.
Horn had an outstanding season in the CFL catching 71 passes for 1415 yards.
The Chiefs drafted Horn in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
He’d toil away for the next 4 seasons with the Chiefs only starting 2 contests.
Signed with the Saints in 2000 where he’d establish himself as a true receiving threat.
Horn caught 94 passes for 1340 yards and 8 TDs that season.
He followed up his first thousand yard season with 1265, 1312, and 973 over the next 3 seasons.
In 2004, Joe had 94 catches for a career high 1399 yards and 11 TDs.
As injuries began to take their toll on Horn, his numbers decreased to a point the Saints asked him to take a pay cut.
Released after the 2006 season, Horn finished second in receiving yards and receptions, while setting the franchise mark for receiving TDs with 50 in 7 seasons.
Played one final cash grab season with the Falcons in 2007 catching 27 passes for 243 yards and a TD to close out his career.
Sells his own BBQ sauce called Bayou 87.
Also coaches WR at Northeast Community College.
ACCOLADES:
Saints Hall of Fame 2020
Pro Bowl 2000-’02, ’04
NOTES:
I had wanted Horn for a while and being that he doesn’t sign TTM when he came cheap, I didn’t hesitate at participating in this signing which also included Rickey Jackson.
Horn is most notoriously known for pulling out a cell phone from underneath a goalpost after scoring a TD during a 2003 Monday Night Football Game.
CARD: Score 2009, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009 ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home SENT: 4/30 RECEIVED: 5/27 (27 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Curtis Painter played QB at Purdue from 2005-’08.
He threw for 11,163 yards and 67 TDs to 46 Interceptions over his college career.
Painter has a quick release, and equalled the school’s single game passing record with 6 passing TDs against Eastern Illinois.
At the 2007 Motor Bowl he completed 35 of 54 passes for a record 546 yards and 3 TDs.
Colts GM Bill Polian watched him twice during the previous season, so it was no surprise when they pulled the trigger on him in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
The team liked what they saw and wanted to groom him behind Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi.
Painter finally saw action as the starting QB near the end of his rookie season as the team decided to rest its starters for the playoffs.
He’d complete 8 of 28 passes for 83 yards.
After not playing the entire 2010 season, Painter was thrust into action in 2011 after Manning was lost for the season due to an injured neck.
He’d replace Kerry Collins in the starting lineup and after 8 contests was replaced in the lineup by Dan Orlovsky.
Completed 132 of 243 passes for 1541 yards and 6 TDs to 9 picks.
Released after the 2011 season.
Signed with the Giants in 2013 where he’d back up… Eli Manning!
Completed 8 of 16 passes for 57 yards and 2 interceptions.
Released during the 2014 offseason.
NOTES:
I think its safe to say that Curtis Painter is the only player to complete the circle having backed up both Peyton and Eli Manning. He also comes from a long and secretive line of quality QBs from Purdue.
Ended up being one of the league’s most effective punter, averaging 42.3 yards on 39 punts.
Had a 62 yard boomer against Birmingham during the season.
Did not return to franchise for the 1992 season and has lived in fair anonymity ever since.
NOTES:
I’ve tried Bobby a few times TTM with no success. What’s even more frustrating is that he resided somewhere in Central Texas- or at least used to. He’s a zero burger through the mail, but I just kept trying.
My reverse search led me to Facebook, and I realized he was friend with a mutual contact of mine, John Walker. John and I had built up a rapport. I had done some custom card work for him and in exchange he promised to help me get Bob’s autograph. That time has come and gone. What? A year? Two?
Anyway, I got tired of waiting so I secured Bob’s autograph on his Pro Set card via eBay, knocking out one of 3 set needs from this elusive Longhorn.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
